CONFERENCE PREVIEW: Sunflower League

The Sunflower League has earned a reputation as one of the premier leagues in high school athletics in all of the midwest, producing high level teams and players.

The teams we see taking big steps forward in the league this season are Shawnee Mission East and Shawnee Mission South. East went 11-10 overall last season but returns one of the state’s premier 2018 players in 6’7 Jack Schoemann who will team with 6’8 2019 PF Zane Meeks to form a dangerous 1-2 punch.

Free State enters the season with a new-look team with the additions of Noah Butler, a powerful 6’5 2019 forward, and Zach McDermott, a talented 6’3 2018 guard. Those two will team with big man Jalan Robinson and Garrett Luinstra, one of the state’s top point guards.

For defending Class 6A state champion Lawrence, a lot will rest on the health of point guard Clarence King, a talented 2019 player who suffered an injury during the summer. At the time, he was putting together a strong offseason competing for KC Run GMC. Lawrence returns Trey Quartlebaum and Brett Chapple, two players who will need to take their games to new heights for Lawrence to have a shot at a repeat.

Shawnee Mission South is led by wing Jake Potthoff and big man Hunter Schneider, a pair of players who have taken their games to new heights in the offseason.